Biography
Longing to embody Princess Leia, Terri Nunn instead rose to prominence as an emblematic figure of 1980s new wave. Prior to assuming vocal duties for Berlin, she tested for a role in Star Wars yet failed to secure it. She entered the Los Angeles outfit in 1979 once its founding singer had exited. The suggestive single "Sex (I'm A...)" reached new wave outlets in 1982, where Nunn’s forthright, R-rated delivery supplied an earthy counterpoint to the cold, mechanical style that dominated synth pop, a field largely populated by male performers. Reviewers remained unmoved, yet her striking appearance and vocals—evoking a blend of Pat Benatar’s assertive edge and Annie Lennox’s detached timbre—enabled Berlin to build an underground MTV audience, particularly through the clips for "The Metro" and "No More Words." The band reached the top of pop airplay in 1986 with the overtly commercial ballad "Take My Breath Away," featured on the Top Gun soundtrack. Internal friction over this polished turn, however, led to the group’s dissolution the following year. Nunn issued the solo album Moment of Truth in 1992. Following an extended break from recording, she assembled fresh players to revive Berlin during the late ’90s. The reconstituted lineup issued Berlin Live: Sacred and Profane in 2000. Consistent with Nunn’s defiant outlook, the cover art showing a woman breast-feeding her child sparked disagreement with the label.